Riley Schillaci

Riley Schillaci (born December 22, 1982) is an American performance artist, specializing in sword swallowing as one of few professional female sword swallowers in the world.

Early life and inception of career Riley Schillaci was born on December 22, 1982, in Rochester, New York. In her childhood, she observed a relative who swallowed forks and knives and stuck licorice up his nose, only to have it reemerge through his mouth. At around 14, Schillaci decided to try swallowing objects because she believed the talent was genetic. She moved on to swallowing drum sticks and glow sticks, and by post-college she swallowed swords. she worked with Ripley's Believe It or Not! She uses rum to disinfect her sword before swallowing it. Schillaci said that her throat becomes faintly sore after sword swallowing a few times per week.

Other Having earned a degree in sociology and health science, Schillaci has worked in factories, special education, child care, web development, and in administration. Her hobbies include writing and playing music.